Museum of Witchcraft and Magic

3186 – The Cromartie Fool: Reproduction of a painting by Richard Waitt

Museum classification:

Halloween exhibition

Size:

40 x 50 cm

Information:

From National Galleries Scotland:

"This grinning man holds a cabbage stalk with a burning candle stuck in the top. This helps identify him as the fool or jester of a Scottish laird, who probably presided over Halloween festivities, such as those described in Robert Burns' poetry. Traditionally, unmarried men and women pulled up kail stocks to confirm the character of their future partner. A candle was then stuck into the end to make a torch. This portrait, painted in 1731, was possibly part of a series depicting Scottish clan members."

Materials:

Paper

From National Galleries Scotland:

"This grinning man holds a cabbage stalk with a burning candle stuck in the top. This helps identify him as the fool or jester of a Scottish laird, who probably presided over Halloween festivities, such as those described in Robert Burns' poetry. Traditionally, unmarried men and women pulled up kail stocks to confirm the character of their future partner. A candle was then stuck into the end to make a torch. This portrait, painted in 1731, was possibly part of a series depicting Scottish clan members."

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